The bookies.com England XI to face Lithuania on Friday

Never mind the fact that Harry Kane has yet to play international football, here at bookies.com we believe that the Tottenham forward has to start against Lithuania on Friday night.

Roy Hodgson had to call up the Premier League’s leading scorer who scored his first senior hat-trick on Saturday when firing home three goals against Leicester City and there is no reason why he can’t do something similar against the Lithuanians.

England are in cruise control when it comes to Euro 2016 qualification and there seems to be little downside when it comes to selecting Kane for this match, while we also think that Hodgson should play Everton pair Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines in defence.

The 4-2-3-1 formation didn’t work as expected during the 2014 World Cup although the personnel in the squad suggests that a similar approach will be taken, especially with Sterling and Welbeck’s pace ensuring there is plenty of danger to opposition defences from out wide.

Michael Carrick’s form for Manchester United should ensure he sits alongside Jordan Henderson to add some steel in front of a rearguard marshalled by Gary Cahill who has played most of Chelsea’s matches this term.

Nathaniel Clyne has made the step up to the England senior team and we expect the Southampton man to get the nod over Kyle Walker who has made a recent return to the international set-up.

Wayne Rooney has to be included as team captain, with Daniel Sturridge waiting in the wings to be used although we’re ultimately expecting the Liverpool man to be selected by Hodgson ahead of Kane.

Alternatively, Hodgson could go for a more traditional 4-4-2 formation featuring Kane and Sturridge, although that would mean Rooney falling back to a central midfield position, somewhere he hasn’t really played for England.